The ElliptiGO is a great machine which is extremely well-built
and has served me well for 4.5 years and counting. The only modifications I've
done to my 8S in that time is to convert the rear geared hub to an 11 speed and
upgrade the chain ring to a 54 tooth. However I've since replaced this with the
original chain ring (53 tooth) as the replacement lasted less than 12 months
before identifying 4 broken teeth just 2 weeks ago. Last year I also upgraded the standard brake calipers (front and back) from
the factory Avids to Shimano XT’s.
But anyone that read my report of the Pendle 600 ride will know that my rim brakes didn't survive that test. This wasn't really
down to the quality or inadequacy of rim brakes under 99% of conditions you
will find, but it’s not every day that you find yourself descending 30% gradients for hours on end. This one experience left me asking what the available alternatives
were. Disc brakes and the proven benefits that come with them was the obvious
answer. Hugely enhanced stopping power and no fade.
Enter stage left – Mr Andrew Nuttall (ElliptiGO Preston team) who
has quietly gone about converting his own ElliptiGO with a front disc
conversion. I watched on with much interest and Andy kept me fully informed as
to its success. In short – it worked brilliantly. I was sold on being Andy’s
first test subject.
Andy Nuttall - ElliptiGO Preston - Paris Brest Paris
What follows is a pictorial of the full conversion. Because
the conversion requires a new wheel build I also took the opportunity to
upgrade the hub to a dynamo hub which generates power for a dynamo specific LED headlight as
well as charging mobile phones and GPS devices. This is also covered below as well as a full
costed list of the parts and components used in the conversion.
I welcome any questions and will answer them if I can.
The Parts
New standard ElliptiGO fork (pre modification)
Velocity Aeroheat 20" Rim (1.5 32H)
Shutter Precision (SP) Dynamo Hub PD-8 (6V 3W output)
Standard Shimano skewer
Velocity Aeroheat rim - stunning!
Rim spec - 20 x 1.5 32 Hole
Shimano twin-piston hydraulic brake lever & caliper
Shimano disc brake pads
Extended 1700mm brake hose to reach ElliptiGO handlebar
Fork modification
The fork modification is the major element of the whole project because without it there is simply no way to attach the disc brake calliper to the fork. The work on the fork was undertaken by Steve Goff Cycles & Frames. and designed with the requirements from Andrew Nuttall. Steve is a master craftsman with 30 years of experience so there is no better person to tackle this unique ElliptiGO project. The project required Steve to manufacture a bespoke bracket for the Shimano disc brake caliper that was then brazed onto the steel chro-moly fork. Steve also removed the existing stays for the rim brake calipers as they were redundant. This provides a very ascetically pleasing clear finish to the top of the fork. Steve also brazed on eyelets to thread the wiring for the dynamo hub, as well as a c-clip holder for the hydraulic hose. The results are below.
New caliper bracket brazed onto the ElliptiGO fork
Caliper bracket, dynamo wiring eyelets, and C-clip holder all brazed on
Dynamo eyelets up close (Shimano brake lever in shot)
C-clip holder for hydraulic brake hose
First test assembly - It all fits!
Sprayed up fork - courtesy of Andy Nuttall Custom Paints Ltd! :-)
Perfection - A thing of beauty and skill
Andy Custom Paints - fork prepared for the ElliptiGO Swoosh!
Andy Custom Paints - keep the masking tape industry afloat
ElliptiGO swoosh added
Final Swoosh. Great job Andy Nuttall!
The Assembly
SP Dynamo hub PD-8 and brake disc
SP Dynamo Hub PD-8 in-situ - a fantastic bit of kit!
Dynamo and disc in-situ 1
Dynamo and disc in-situ 2
Dynamo and disc in-situ 3
Shimano hydraulic brake lever in-situ
32 spoke wheel built and assembled - I opted for semi-wave brake disc
Assembled built wheel with Shimano caliper attached
Bracket and caliper up close
Final assembly on the ElliptiGO - incs Schwalbe Durano Plus 1.1 tyre
Alans BMX who calculated the length and supplied FREE spokes!!! Thanks guys :-)
Dynamo headlamp + generator hub I did a lot research on dynamo hubs and headlamps. There is a lot of choice out there so it was important to get the right set up for the ElliptiGO and at the right price. A great resource to read up on headlamp and dynamo technology is PeterWhiteCycles. There is also a very good article from CTC comparing the Top 5 dynamo hubs here. This article includes the SP dynamo hub PD-8 that I purchased. A key factor in my decision was the average speed that I would be riding my ElliptiGO. Dynamo hubs produce different output (Watts) at different speeds. Paris Brest Paris was a major factor here and I knew that we would be looking to ride no faster than 15-18kph. And the ElliptiGO is inherently a lot slower than a standard bike. And remember that you will also only being using the light at night when you are unlikely to be riding that fast anyway.
SP Dynamo Hub PD-8
The graph below is really helpful to understand the output of different dynamo hubs. It includes the most popular dynamo generator hubs on the market. The market leader is the SON Delux which retails at £180. However compare the Watts generated at 15kph and you can see that there is no difference between the SON and the SP Dynamo which is half the price. So for my needs the SP was perfect.
Output (W) for different hub generators
You also often hear people asking whether a dynamo significantly adds to the effort required to pedal along at a given speed (known as 'generator drag'). In the old days this was certainly true but the new breed of hubs are so good that you would be very hard pressed to even tell they are on. The chart below illustrates this by expressing the extra effort required to ride (with the hub switched off and on) in ascent (ft) per mile.
Dynamo hub generator efficiency
The SP dynamo that I purchased equates to an extra 4.5 feet of ascent per mile in effort. The CTC article linked (from which these graphs were published) go into more detail if you are interested. When it comes to headlamps there is a lot of choice. After much research I opted for the Busch & Müller IQ2 Luxos U headlamp which received rave reviews, with many folk on the Audax UK facebook group singing its praises. One of the key factors when deciding on the lamp is whether you want just a standard light, or some of the extra bells and whistles that come with others. The Luxos U is a very clever bit of kit and incorporates a cache battery which is charged by the dynamo hub. So as well as using the battery to power the light it can also be used to charge other devices. This is what sold it for me allowing me to keep my mobile phone charged throughout Paris Brest Paris, and it worked perfectly. I shot the video below on my first night test ride. It compares the Luxos U headlight versus my existing battery powered Hope Vision 1 lamp.
Video of my test ride demonstrating the B&M Luxos U headlight in action
Pictures below.
Busch & Müller IQ2 Luxos U LED headlamp
Busch & Müller IQ2 Luxos U headlamp - provides a car headlamp shaped beam
Busch & Müller Luxos U headlamp affixed to ElliptiGO fork fixing point
Busch & Müller Luxos U - perfect fixing point for the lamp
Really nifty remote button to control the Luxos U lamp
Very handy for charging mobile phones, GPS devices and bluetooth speakers! :-)
Remote button affixed to ElliptiGO stem
(Button couldn't mount on the handlebar as it came with a short cable - I didn't realise they do it in 3 lengths!)
Final Set-up :-)
At night after my first successful test ride
Final full set-up for Paris Brest Paris
Headlamp & dynamo doing its job brilliantly on Paris Brest Paris 2015
So how did the SP hub, B&M Luxos and disc brake perform on PBP?
In a word - brilliantly! I'll start with the hub and light set-up. In the day I was able to charge my Garmin etrex30 from the dynamo and also keep my mobile phone topped up. At night the dynamo was still capable of powering the Garmin whilst simultaneously powering the B&M Luxos headlamp. The illumination on the road ahead was absolutely superb with both a long and very wide beam (much like a car headlight pattern). Night riding was a real pleasure to the point where I was actually looking forward to using the light. At one point I rode along fellow ElliptiGOer Bill who also has exactly the same B&M Luxos light, but with the SON Delux hub. The SON costs twice as much as the SP hub but there was no discernible different in the light output at all. Result! I would definitely recommend a dynamo light set up to anyone that wants better light output, no hassle from batteries and the ability to power other devices. Note however that not all light have a cache battery with this capability. Now on to the Shimano hydraulic disc brake and I also can not fault it. I'm glad I made the modification purely because it is a bit different to the standard set up. PBP certainly wasn't a flat course and so it allowed me to test the brake on all gradients. I had complete confidence in it and the key difference from a rim brake is that it doesn't fade under braking. The bite is instantly there and squeeze just a little harder and the ElliptiGO was coming to a complete halt in seconds. So a BIG thumbs up! The only consideration to take into account is that a hydraulic brake is not as easy to service as a rim brake, but on the other hand it should require less servicing. The pads pop out and can be replaced in seconds. It was only the initial sponginess of the brake that gave me doubt, but after a re-bleed from Grant (qualified bike mechanic) it was sorted. I just need to learn to do this myself.
Cost breakdown suppliers
My huge thanks to Andy Nuttall for making this project possible. Thanks mate! Note: Please contact Andy for advice if you are thinking about this upgrade due to the Safety implications of such a modification. Andy can provide full details of the design if anyone else would like to do the modification themselves.
Thanks also to Broadgate Cycles, Steve Goff Frames, and Alans BMX.
Fork Disc Brake conversion
£47 - Velocity Aeroheat rim - Ordered from Bricklane Bikes, London
[This post was updated in May 2020 with additional photos and information, updated web links and a few new tyres :-) Please leave a comment to add to this article with your own experiences which I will then include in the post.]
In #1 Ultra Disco Stu's ElliptiGO Tech Talk I'm discussing tyres (UK spelling! :-). This post covers 20" tyres used on the ElliptiGO Long Stride models, Arc and the original SUB. MSUB and RSUB models are not covered. Although you will find many of the tyres reviewed here in a 26" size to fit the MSUB/RSUB.
The great tyre debate seems to rumble on on the ElliptiGO Facebook Group page. [edit: I wrote this article in 2014! It's now 2020 and there are still regular questions posted about tyre choice for the ElliptiGO.... What's faster?.. What gives me better puncture protection?... What's lightest?.. What's cheapest?]
The intention here is to outline the main brands and tyres used by riders that are compatible with the ElliptiGO [Long Stride/Arc/original SUB] to provide a useful resource to all ElliptiGO riders whether you are a newbie or seasoned rider looking to replace or upgrade.
ELLIPTIGO STOCK TYRE
10 years on and all ElliptiGOs [Long Stride/Arc/original SUB] still come out of the factory with Kenda Kwest (20" x 1.5") fitted as standard.
Kenda Kwest stock ElliptiGO tyre
It was described on the Kenda website as a 'performance road tyre' but I'd question. The Kwest is definitely a solid touring tyre but with no real stand out features. I would put it in the 'value' category. They roll quite well but are fairly heavy and don't feature any puncture resistance which is something ElliptiGO riders tend to look for to best avoid time consuming roadside incidents. The Kwest is the cheapest tyre in this review so if you are buying on a budget then they will serve you well and are totally adequate for the job.
Kenda website update: As of May 2020 the Kwest tyre no longer features on their website so it looks to be discontinued now. What will ElliptiGO do going foward!? Perhaps read my blog and start fitting my recommended top choice ;-)
SCHWALBE MARATHON RANGE The tyre of choice for most ElliptiGO riders looking to replace/upgrade the factory Kwest's is a tyre from the Schwalbe Marathon range. The entire Marathon range comes with GreenGuard or SmartGuard - a patented puncture resistance rubber cushion that runs inside the length of the tyre and provides great protection from glass, nails and other foreign objects out to ruin your ride. I'd suggest that there are four main tyres suitable for the ElliptiGO in the Schwalbe Marathon range: Marathon Original, Marathon Racer, Marathon Plus, and if you are going onto the trails or just want a really beefy grippy tyre there is also the Marathon 365 GT. The chart below shows the full range of Schwalbe tyres with puncture protection ranked from 1 - 7, as well as their key purpose. And below that you will see some cutaway illustrations that show the different protection systems.
Schwalbe puncture protection chart
Schwalbe puncture protection types
The SchwalbeMarathon Original tyre is the cheapest in the Schwalberange and provides good puncture resistance with GreenGuard protection - a 3mm elastic rubber cushion.
Marathon Original tyre with GreenGuard
The Marathon Original is not a low profile tyre and has a much larger depth than the factory fitted Kenda Kwest's. As a result this tyre is ONLY compatible with the ElliptiGO 8S and 11R which have a larger clearance on the front fork. The Marathon Original will NOT FIT the new Long stride C series (3C / 8C). And I'm not sure whether it fits the Arc or SUB either.
I have happily ridden the Marathon Originals for thousands of miles on my 8S in the early days of ownership. They are bomb proof and perform well in the wet so overall they score very well as an all rounder. If you are looking for a bit of speed though then the Originals are probably best avoided as they have a higher rolling resistance. However for most riders the difference is barely noticeable and only if you are really pushing it.
The Schwalbe Marathon Racer is a lower profile version of the Marathon Original which is compatible with ALL ElliptiGO models. It's described by Schwalbe as the fastest and lightest Marathon tyre.
Schwalbe Marathon Racer
Schwalbe Marathon Racer tread pattern
It features HD-Speed-Guard providing the highest level of Kevlar Guard, but it doesn't offer the same high level of protection as GreenGuard on the Originals. As expected is has a lower rolling resistance and slightly less aggressive tread pattern than the Originals but I think these differences are subtle. Overall the Marathon Racer is a great all rounder that is a serious contender if you are prepared to compromise slightly on puncture resistance in favour of speed and a tyre that weighs half of the Originals. Schwalbe Marathon Racer website link: https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader/marathon-racer
The Schwalbe Marathon Plus is next up!! This is the tyre of choice for many ElliptiGO riders. It does everything extremely well, and features the best puncture resistance in the range (Level 7) with SmartGuard which is a major benefit for many riders not keen or confident removing the rear wheel on the ElliptiGO.
Schwalbe Marathon Plus SmartGuard puncture protection
Note that the Marathon Plus 20" tyre comes in two different profiles. 20x1.35 and the 20x1.75. It's the 20x1.35 that you will need. The 1.75 profile is too large and isn't compatible with the ElliptiGO.
The 1.35 is a low profile tyre, providing low rolling resistance and looks the business too. The Plus has a good tread pattern similar to the Racer which clears water fast in the wet, and provides great all round grip in all conditions. Many riders who ride the Plus speak very highly of them. They can't really be faulted. They are however the heaviest tyre in this review, but then again the ElliptoGO weighs in at over 20KG (long stride) so weight saving isn't really a priority for most riders. But perhaps if you are riding the Arc or SUB and wanting to go light then this tyre probably won't be your first choice. As an aside if you are a bit of an eco warrior like me and like to do your bit for the environment then you may be interested to know that the special rubber puncture compound in the Marathon range is made partly from recycled materials. Schwalbe Marathon Plus website link: https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader/marathon-plus
The Schwalbe Marathon 365 GT is a new addition to the marathon range. It has an extremely aggressive tread pattern for a 20" tyre. If you are looking to take your ElliptiGO off-road then this is the tyre for you. But interestingly according to the marketing blurb on their website its not sold as an off-road tyre but as a tyre for all all seasons. Hence the 365 name! So if you want maximum grip, or ride a lot in wet or slippery conditions then perhaps the 365 is what you need in your life.
Schwalbe Marathon 365 GT tread and DualGuard puncture protection
Off-roading on the Long Stride!! Eeek not for everyone!
SUMMARY OF SCHWALBE MARATHON RANGE
In summary all the tyres in the SchwalbeMarathon range have great durability and last many many thousands of miles. So you really can't go wrong with any of them. If pushed to recommend one particular tyre from this range then for me it would have to be the Marathon Plus. They are the work horse in the range (with thoroughbred performance!) and are definitely worth the extra money. And in my opinion this is the tyre that ElliptiGO should be fitting as standard on all their models out the factory. The full Schwalbe tour range can be viewed here: https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour
FEELING THE NEED FOR SPEED!?! Schwalbe also have a new entrant to rival the Marathon which is specifically designed for speed. Now we're talking!!! :-) The Schwalbe Durano Plus still features their patented puncture resistance technology (unusual in a racing tyre) but is very low profile and much narrower than the Marathon range.
Schwalbe Durano Plus
Available in 20" (wheel diameter) so suitable for the ElliptiGO (20 x 1.1). The Durano features two choices of puncture resistance - RaceGuard, and SmartGuard. SmartGuard provides the highest level of puncture resistance and adds a little extra weight to the tyre. But with the ElliptiGO this is hardly a concern as shaving off precious ounces isn't a priority. This is a great performance tyre. They are fast with very low rolling resistance (so especially great for climbing hills and flat speed challenges! ;-) and also provide good levels of grip in the dry. They aren't the cheapest tyre but other reviews online report them being very durable and lasting a long time so comparable with the Marathons. I didn't have as much confidence in the wet when riding the Durano's though so they are best kept for summer riding. Schwalbe Durano website link: https://www.schwalbe.com/en/road-reader/durano-plus A newer sporty tyre perfect for the ElliptiGO from Schwalbe is the Kojak. This is in their 'Tour' range (so not listed as a racing tyre) but as you can tell from the lack of tread it has a smooth compound. I'm currently riding the Kojak's on my long stride 11S and they are great. They feel faster than the Marathon range, and I'm enjoying them a lot. They don't offer as much shock absorbing qualities as the marathon range though, so when riding on particularly poor road surfaces with cracks, lumps and bumps you can feel the road more. The compound seems to last very well. At first I thought they would wear out very quickly but this hasn't be the case. I do like these a lot and can definitely recommend them.
The next two tyres in our review is from well-known tyre brand Continental. They know a thing or two about tyres so I was excited when I originally came across the 'SportContact'. Like the Schwalbe Durano it's a very low profile and narrow tyre. The lowest profile tyre in this review in fact, and placed side by side with the Marathon Original it's half its size! It also features a puncture resistant band which works. I didn't get a single puncture in over 2,000 miles of riding these. I may just have been very lucky!
Continental SportCONTACT
The SportContact is a super slick tyre with the tread seemingly non-existent, but look more closely and there is a wave along the centre of the tyre which is actually extremely effective at clearing water quickly on wet surfaces. I was extremely impressed with this tyre having purchased it - it is a high performance tyre and coped very well with everything I threw at it on tough UK roads (these aren't the smooth Californian boulevards!). It is a very fast tyre too.
The disappointment with the SportContact is it's durability. Even after just 500 miles it was showing signs of wear and tear and by 2000 miles approx my rear tyre had worn through the rubber to reveal the weave underneath. I only paid £22 each for these but I still expected it to last much longer than this. In comparison to the Marathons which last many many 1000s of miles, the Marathons and even the Duranos represent much better value for money a day to day tyre. In summary the SportContact is a great racing tyre but best reserved just for this purpose and not daily riding. It's worth noting that it's not the easiest tyre to fit on the rim either. Also from Continental is the 'ContactSpeed'. I'm riding these on my 30 speed ElliptiGO Arc at the moment and I have to say they are awesome. If you want to ride fast on flat dry roads then these might just be what you are looking for. They have an interesting tread pattern too. I think these may just be an updated version of the SportContact. Certainly the name is very similar, as is the design and profile.
Continental SafetySystem Breaker for puncture protection
The SafetySystem Breaker in these tyres is made up of a Kevlar reinforced high-strength nylon fabric. Without increasing the weight or rolling resistance noticeably, it protects against punctures and contributes to a longer lifespan of the tyre. I don't think these tyres will do the same mileage as those in the Schwalbe marathon range but that's to be expected as its meant for speed and fun!
